Art Beat, debuting as a new contemporary art platform in Istanbul, will be organized for the first time in September. The art fair, which will bring together both Turkish and international galleries under the same roof, also coincides with the 12th Istanbul Biennial.

Istanbul is preparing to welcome in September the first contemporary art platform that is inviting international dealers to participate as well as Turkish dealers. The first annual Art Beat Istanbul, which will debut between Sept. 14 -18, coincides this year with the opening of the 12th Istanbul Biennial, which is devoted to Turkish participants from Sept. 17 to Nov. 13.

“Our aim is to create a unique destination for art professionals and investors by introducing Istanbul’s galleries and artists to the world. The fair is also a platform for international exhibitors, including Middle-Eastern and U.S. galleries, to gain recognition in Turkey,” said Arhan Kayar, Director of Art Beat Istanbul. Kayar’s name is also behind events like the Istanbul Design Week and the Turkish Pavilion at Expo 2000.

He said that they were very excited with the opportunities the fair would bring to Istanbul’s contemporary art scene in the coming years. They would build partnerships with galleries, collectors and curators, involving art organizations from around the world for the fair.

Art Beat Istanbul’s venue will be the Lüfti Kirdar Convention and Exhibition Center. The fair will house approximately 24 galleries, and the exhibitors will comprise of some of the most forward-thinking galleries from Istanbul and the globe, bringing an international focus to the dynamic contemporary art scene in Istanbul.

A project space for participating galleries

Art Beat Istanbul intends to create an atmosphere that is of cultural as well as commercial value. The fair will present a limited number of participants to offer visitors a refined anthology of Turkish and international contemporary art. The lower-ground floor can be utilized as a project space for the participating galleries.

“With an increasing number of art foundations, museums, galleries, collectors and artists, Istanbul is an exceptional city for contemporary art, and its position between Europe and the Middle East makes it a desirable city for holding an international art fair,” said Kayar, adding that the goal of the fair was to become the main international art show of its entire region, ranging from Eastern Europe and Northern Eurasia to the Middle East and North Africa.

During the Art Basel, which is the world’s biggest contemporary art fair held in Switzerland between June 15 and 19 this year, Art Beat Istanbul was also promoted through advertisements in The Art Newspaper and Art Forum, which also received great interest from art circles.